davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
A Beavers Instinct.

An old hunter living in the Crazy Mountains caught a young beaver soon after it's birth and carried it to his cabin, where he gradually made great pet of it. As the youngster approached ma turity he got to building dams, and each morning the hunter found his cabin floor divided by a dam that reached from wall to wall. the component parts of which were firewood, boots, articles ot clothing and other movable articles in the house that could be reached or transported. To add to the confusion, basin or bucket of water, if possible was capsized and flooded over the floor. This little animal, who had never seen stream or a dam to know either, was busily at work engaged in doing what his forefathers had done a thousand years before him.
 While all other game or fur-bearing animals of the northwest are likely to be exterminated without dissenting voice the poor little harmless and hard- working beaver has found a fast friend in the cattle-men and herd-owners. The reason is obvious. In this great dry country and climate the streams and water-holes on the ranges are few and far between. Moisture is the cattle mans greatest want. Now, a beaver destroys nothing but trees, and as there are few of the latter on the great tree. less plains of Montana, the beaver of necessity lives on shrubs and roots and builds his dam where he may. This just suits the cattleman, who finds in the insignificant little quadruped, compared to his 1000-pound steers, a most val uable ally in providing ponds and drink ing places where there were none before. San Francisco Call.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

Miss Clara Cushman of Boston, who has recently returned from missionary work in China, has established number of schools in Pekin for Chinese girls. She says the girls are very apt scholars. and that $50 are required to support and instruct one child for a year. The children chant their lessons in curious sing-song tone, and the noise made by a hundred of these seekers after knowledge is frightful. Seven hundred girl infants who had been thrown into the streets of Pekin by their parents were rescued in one year by Catholic missionaries. Miss Cushman says that an Amciican sewing machine is known in Pekin as the '.iron tailor."
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Tha Tiger and the Steam Roller.

The tiger is but mortal after all, and can be as easily frightened as other much more timid creatures. One that had escaped from it's home in Calcutta met Q steam roller in the streets and grew so alarmed that it at once turned tail< In it's terror it fled into a house, leaped over the breakfast table at which four per. sons were sitting, and finally found refuge in corner of the kitchen, where it crouched down quite cowed. After some time it was prevailed upon to leave ito quarters by the bait of a meal.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

The advantages of natural gas for manufacturing purposes are attracting attention even outside of our own coun- try. Several Belgium and English makers of plate g.ass and iron founders have been making inquiries with view of removing their works to the natu: al gas district of Pennsylvania. Their object is not only to get cheapcr fuel, but better product, especially of plate glass, which is superior to that made by burning coal. Several sites have been contracted for, and in some the purchase has been completed. The American Cultivator thinks it will be somewhat strange if the possession of the natural gas helps to make the United States the greatest manufac turing country in the world
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Many people are strangely affected b

Many people are strangely affected by the light air and coco feet altitude of Cheyenne, in Wyoming. They gener- ally imagine that they are going to be carefully watched. Women are the most liable to be affected, and they feel the eff ct of the rarefed atmosphere in the cars before reaching the town. Among other incidents of this nature a policeman relates the following: IA little fellow from Nevada began to show the effect of the altitude as the train neared Cheyenne. By the time he had reached there he had barricaded him. self in the retiring room and was about to throw himself out of the window when the trainmen forced their way in and caught him. He was sure some- body was going to kill him. got him away from the crowd and told him I'd protect him, and finally got him quietcd down. The trainmen looked after him until they began to descend from Sher- man, and thereafter he seemed to be as sane as anybody"
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Indian Pain Achievement.

The Apache he-Mojaves sometimes resort 10 the Tonto medicine men to receive tho rattlesnake treatment for the relief of pain.
 At the agency one day the rattling of snake attracted my attention, and on approaching group of Indians from which the sound seemed to proceed l found medicine man squatting down holding large rattlesnake in his right hand, the thumb and index finger of which encircled it close to its head, while he gently stroked its back with his left.
 Presently an old man advanced 10 him, and, saying he had a pain in his head, squatted on the ground. The medicine man arose, and, placing himself behind his patient, coiled the snake around his head, and, while holding it there, ut tered gutteral chant, occasionally causing the snake to vlbrate its rattlcs. He then quickly uncoiled the snake and swung it head foremost away from the mans head, at the same time making the sound whist.
 The man then pointed to his right arm, and the medicine man laid the snake alaag the limb, it's head resting on the hand. He chanted again, caused it to rattle, and swung ltaway as before. The old man arose, and with satisfied air walked away. Other patients suc- ceeded him to have the snake laid on various parts of the body.
 After time the medicine man rested the snake on the ground again, and, still retaining his hold of it with his right hand, put pinch of yellow pollen into its mouth with the left, and rubbed some along its belly. He then held his hand out to a man, who took pinch of the powder and rubbed it on the crown of a boys head. Yellow pollen treated | in this manner is common remedy fol headache, and may frequently be seen or he crown of the head of men and boys.- American Antiquarian.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

'Maryl Maryw screamed the shrill, falsetto voice of Mrs. Yorke. 'Why, what has become of tho child2 She's here, and there and nowhere, like a will o'-the- wisp. Maryl is that you coming up the lane2 And Classy sick, and old Betsey gone home to her sisters funeral! I should like to know what is to become of Number Nineteen's dinner, with the chickens scorching, and the bread-sauce to be made, and the cherry tartlets not looked at2 You are getting too careless for anything, and-Oh, good gracious me, sir,' with a prodigious start, "Tm sure beg thousand pardons, butt'
 H.Am-Falways hereafter to be known by a number, like a lottery ticket ?" said Hugh Derby. laughing. 'Never mind the dinner, Mrs. Yorke-Miss Folyott could tell you that am an old friend of hers"
 And when Mrs. Yorke heard the story, she was quite willing to concede that truth was stranger than fiction; and for an instant it seemed almost possible that Abe, the tin-peddler, might yet appear on this mundane sphere. -,,.>
 "One thing wouldn't be more i'm possible than t'other," said she, as she weighed out spices for a pudding.
 While Hugh and Mary, walking by the sea, watched the purple portals of sunset close on the beautiful Decoration Day which had brought such gift of happiness to their hearts. Saturday Night.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Unhealthful Occupations.

When the air we breathe is contaml- mated by stagnation, by breathing, by fires or artificial light, such as candles, lamps and gas, it operates as poison and injures the constitution. People seem to think that wh holesome food and drink are much more important than pure air, and their reason of so thinking is because air is an invisible substance. Crowds of mechanics of all kinds, are frequently pent up from morning to night, without even thinking of opening their windows for single half hour for the admission of fresh air. When in England one-ffth of all the deaths are from pulmonary consumption; in France one-sixth; in Germany one-seventh, and in our own country oae-eighth ;and when we see the carelessness on eyery hand about what we breathe, it is not difficult to discover the cause of such fearful mortality, and also it is not difficult to discover the remedy. As things are now it cannot be denied that some occupa- tions are more unhealthful than others, and yet the differences, in a sanitary sense, could be greatly lessened. City people arc more subject to pulmonary disease than those of the country, and this need not be; at least while there is so free circulation of pure air in the city, better use conld be made of what there is.
 Sedentary employments are less favor able than the active kinds, yet the man ner and posture can work, marked modi- fcations. A dust laden atmosphere is the most difficult evil to face. To environ the worker with 8 pure atmosphere is possible, but it's execution is not so easy. Occupations that are classed as unhealth' full can be made less so by properly un derstandlng and practicing the laws of breathing. -[ Health and Home.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

The theories for studying character from the veriest triaes promise to have no end. The latest, and perhaps the most ludicrous, is the one formulated by Dr. Garrc of Basic, Switzerland. He says the character of people can be diag- nosed by their old shoes. If the sole and keel are equally worn, it belongs to an enersstic man of business, trust worthy officer, an exemplary wife, an excel ent mother. A shoe worn on the inner edge indicates irresolution, on the outer edge only, fanatacism and rash temper, etc. It has been accepted that 0 mans walk indicates character, and the step from gait to gaiters isn't long one
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

A writer in the Current says "there is no reason why America, with its great variety of soil and climate, should not avail itself of the benefits of the perfume industry, especially in the Southern states of California. And even in the North it could be prosecuted with great profit. Roses, violets, hcliotrope, lilies of all kinds, mignonette, mock oranges honey locust, verbenas, lilacs, berga- mont, rosemary and many other plant, used in perfume making could easily be grown. And the fields of white clover, the masses of wild eglantine, the fra grant linden trees, the odorous arbutus blooms and water lillies, the spicy laurel, all of which grow wild, without the aid of human culture, need but gathering to be made 8 source of profit as we'll as beauty. The possibilities of flower cul- ture in the south can hardly be over es- timated. The most riotous imagination can scarcely picture the realities of the natural flower gardens of California, where plants, which here, with the most careful cultivation, are only modest shrubs, grow to tall trees, adorned with their coronals of beauty and fragrance. All the rare beauties of the floral king dom, which in the north are brought in- to bloom by the most painstaking pro- cess in greenhouses and conservatories, not only throng the gardens there, but run in wild luxuriance over uncultivated fields and hillsides. Florida too, could be made veritable Elysium of lowell. ness. Honey raising could also be as- sociated with the flower industry. as the immense flower fields would be a para disc for bees, and 30 double profit bt derived with but little extra outlay k labee oF sxpsnsA
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Turpentine Farming in Georgia.

A turpentine farm consists of from tive to forty crops of 10, 500 boxes each. The work is sometimes carried on by the owners of the pine forests themselves; again, the trees are leased out for cer- tain number of years, two or three being about the limit. Negro labor is princi- pally employed in this section. The work commences in November, when the boxing of the trees begins. The boxes, which are cut sloping back into the trees about foot from the ground, measure three inches back at bottom, four deep, and about 17 in length. In March they are cornered; that is a chip is taken off on both sides just above the ends of the boxes. Next the faces for dripping are cut V-shape between and above the places clipped. The number of faces on each tree depends upon its size, vary ing from one to three. Besides the original cutting of the faces, the trees are hacked once a week during the drip ping season with peculiarly shaped knife suited to the purpose. The hack ing increases the length of the faces, as one or two inches of bark are taken off above each time.
 The dipping of the crude into bar rels begins about the middle of March, and tho boxes are emptied seven or eight times during the season. They hold from one two quarts each, and from 10,- 900 boxes BIO barrels is considered a far, 25o fine yield. The first years dripping is called "virgin," the second "yearling," and all after "old stuff. !" From eight barrels of crude they get two of spirits of turpentine, and five to five and half of resin. Of the latter there are several grades: ". w., "water- white"; W. G., ''window-glass"; M, next highest, and so on up the alpha bet, but down in quality, to A, the let ter J being omitted. The first drippings, if not scorched in boiling, make beau- tifuly white, transparent resin; hence the name '.wattr-white." The crude producing this can never be obtained from the trees after the first month'srun- ming; that for w. G., "window-glass," " possibly, into July or August.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
The Poet.

He sings: and such unscornful few as heed, Say kindly, "Good, perhaps, but what's tho
 needf'
 And others mutter, "Wordsl All has been said that there is need to say. What does he want, this piper bound to play Before unlistening herds" And so the dreams that dazzled him at dawn Decline, and as the silent night comes on, Mad pray'r and protest cease; Yet sickening hope through failure will
 abide, Until the hungry heart, unsatisied- In death finds its first peace. And then-ono day the wakening nations
 say, No doubt, this mans was an inspired lay Bow to the laureled headm . And then-he is bewept, and loved and
 praised; And then-enduring monuments are raised To him long dead, long dead!
 -[Gertrude Hall, in the Century.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

The new Baptist "year book" shows following statistics as to the strength of Baptists in the United States: Associa. tions, 1,244; ordained ministers, 19. 377; churches, 30, 522; baptisms, 154. 37S; members, a,73s, 316; Sunday schools
 1S, 669; officers and teachers, 107, 037; Sunday school scholars, 1, Oil, 5s5; va!- ue of church property, s4s 55s 79t; contributed for missions, $s49, s3s. 67; sfox education, s1Os, 74906. Total anount of contributions, $7. s43, 031. 13.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
VOL. XVI.
Who knONS2

June leaves are green. pink is the rose, White bloom the lilies; yet who knows Or swears he knows the reason whyl
 None dare say-"I." The oriole, fitting, s.oops and sips A soft, sweet kiss from the lily's lips; Who taught the oriole to steal sol
 None say they know. Whether the oriole stops and thinks, Or whether he simply stoops and drinks Saying it only suits him well;
 This who can tells We marvel whiher this life stream tends And how remote are it's hidden ends; But life and loving soon slip over
 Time and the lover. A kiss is all; Q sip and a song; A day is short, and year not long, Loving would double-hut thinking stol
 Half from the whole.
 -[James Herbert Morse.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
Coffee Cherries,

The fruit of the coffee tree is so like English cherries that, it is said, most folk would be at loss to tell heap of the berries from heap of the edible fruit. This applies, however, only to their outward appearance, for the berry contains no stone, but two seeds in- stead. These seeds (which are carried in thick leathery skin, called "parch- ment'D, after going through different processes. become the coffee beans of commerce,
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
S C. MCKLEY, Editor and Proprietor.
Local News a Speciality.
TERAIS,

Lastyear tax was paid upon 3,510,- sos, 4ss cigars. The average smoker is content with a~ cigar worth $50 per thousand, <er one that retails at five cents. On that basis there annually goes up in smoke s1sQ, eco, 900. or s15, ooo,- 900 every mopsh, or $500, 900 every day. In addition boys spend on cigarettes $6, 500, 900, and those who prefer pipe further sum of $2O. GOO, 900.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
The Unhappy Creditor.

First student-''Where are you going, Tom2"
 Second student-''To my tailor"
 "Going to pay him what you owe him2"
 "Not much. When he wants money he has to como to me, and then l tell him whsnto come again. ."-(siftings.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13

Denver is the highest of the State capitals, being s, 175 feet above the sea level.
Connecticut western news., 1887-04-13
An Unexpected Result.

BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-02-09
A BRIGHT AUGURY.

The Raleigh State Chronicle begins
an editorial on the proceedings Oh
the Farmers Convention thus:
We doubt if ever before IN the
history Of the State there has Deen
SO large a gathering of farmers a.
assembled in Raleigh last week 10
organize a State Farmers Assocla-
ton. At the opening ofthe conven-
ton 243 delegates from the clups ~,
associations &c, were found to oe
present. And they were farmer
men who make their bread SIN 1ne
sweat of their face" They were d
Sturdy set of sensible men and theii
cdming together and taking couhcn
was a bright augury for the future .,
thfir calling. They were in kaleIsd
TWO days and their work reflec'''
cfedit upon them.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-02-09
THE AGRICULTURAL AND ME-.
CHANICAL COLLEGE.
Petition of the Farmers of North Caro-
lima Presented to the Legislature.

To THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH
CAROLINA:
We, the undersigned committee
appointed by the mass convention
Of farmers which met in this city OF
Raleigh, on the 26th of January,
1887, enclose herewith a copy of
the resolutions adopted by the
said convention in regard to an
Agricultural and Mechanical college.
We most respectfully ask your
honorable body to comply with said
resolutions, thereby creating an
institution long needed in North
Carolina.
Yours most respectfully,
[Signed.]
JAMES T. LEGRAND: Chairman.
VIM. F. GREENE,
JULIAN ALLEN,
HERBERT E. NORRIS,
D. Mon. MCKAY,
r. D. PARKER,
GEORGE q. FRENCH.
The report of the committee on
industrial education, which was
adopted, is as follows:
To THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF
THE MASS oNvENTIoN OF FARMERS.
Gentlemen-Your committee on
industrial education recommend the
adoption Of the following resolu-
tons: -~~~
Resolvnd, |. That the time has arrived
when the interests of the farmers and
other industrial classes demand the es-
Enlistment of a separate agricultural
and mechanical college, in accordance
with the provisions of the United States
statute known as the Land Scrip Act.
Resotved 2. That the States certificate of
Indebtedness issued for principal of said
Land Scrip Fund to the trustees of the
University of North Carolina should be
transferred to the said agricultural and me-
chanical college and the interest thereon
be paid to it.
Resolued 3. That in order to make this
college equal to the demands of the hour
an appropriation from the general trea-
sury of a sufficient amount of money.
with any, and all convict labor and
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-02-09

ton Mr.. Elias Carr, of Edgecombee,
and he was unanimously elected.
The other Offices we're filled as fol
lows: n vice-president from each
of the nine congressional districts;
LIST, Willis R. Williams, of Pitt; md,
Capt. w. A. Darden, of Greene; 3rd,G.
z. French, of Fender 18th, Col. w. r:
Green, of Franklin 9TH, He. Fries, OF
Forsyth; 9th, j. S. Reid, OF Mecklen,
burg; 7th, w. H. Hobson; 8th, Burwell
Blanton 9th. w. III. Mcclure, OF Clay +;
Secretary, B. F. Hester, of GRANVILLE; as
sistant Secretaries, S. Ohio Wilson,, OF
Wake, and C. Mcdonald, of Cabarrus
Treasurer, w. E. Benbow of Guilford
Executive Committee, DR.. D. r. Parker,
of Randolph; Prof. A. NJ. Mclver, OF
Orange; D.. Men. Mckay, of Harnett
L. L. Polk, of Forsyth; and &. Melon
aid, of Cabarrus.
The following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
Resolyed, That the thanks of this Con
vention be rendered to the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen of the city of Raj
eieh. to the city Press and to the Rail
roads for courtesies and kindness shown
to this body.
w. NJ. Pickett, of Arson, intro
duced the following:
WHEREAS, The traffic in seed cotton
in North Carolina is detrimental to the
farming interest Of the State. Therefore
ResoIved, That the Convention ask the
present Legislature to redress this grlev-
ance by a rigid prohibition OF it's sale by
a tenant or cropper until he has settled
with his landlord or mortgage:
Resolyed Further, That it is the n of
this Convention that no license for the
sale of spirituous liquors should be grant
ed for a less time than n year, nor for
a less sum than three, hundred dollars.
Adopted. &c..
By D. R. Parker:
Resohved, That the Secretary be in
structed to furnish an official report of
the proceedings of this Convention to
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER for publication.
ResoIyed Further, That when this asso-
in the city of Greensboro on the second
Wednesday in January, 1888. The res.
olutions were adopted. '
By Francis Joyner, of Pitt:
Resolyed, That Col. L. L. Polk, editor
of The PROGRESSIVE FARMER, deserves
and he is hereby rendered the warmest
thanks of this Convention for the fear
less position he has maintained in the
interest of the agricultural industries of
the State, and for his successful effort in
effecting an organization of the farmers
and in establishing this State Farmers
Association. On motion the rules were
suspended and the resolution was
adopted.
On motion the Convention ad-
journed. /
ELIAS CARR. President. /.
S. OHIO WILSON, Secretary.
w. E. BENBOW, . o.,
w. II. NICHOLSON, Asst Secs.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-02-09

with this number the first year -
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER expires
each of our subscribers will use on!
little effort, we can begin our sec0DI 3
year with a greatly increased number u
subscribers. 1t could be doubled. r""
subscriber can send us at least one =
name. Will you not try.